Definition and Usage:
The term "mutter" refers to speaking in a low, indistinct voice, often indicative of discontent, complaint, or secretive communication. In biblical contexts, muttering can be associated with grumbling or murmuring against God or His appointed leaders. It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of faith or trust in God's provision and plan.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 16:2-3 : "And there in the desert they all grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, 'If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread! But you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death.'"
· In this passage, the Israelites' grumbling or muttering against Moses and Aaron reflects their dissatisfaction and lack of faith in God's deliverance and provision. Their complaints are directed at their leaders but ultimately show a deeper mistrust in God's plan.

2. Numbers 14:2 : "All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, 'If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!'"
· Here, the Israelites' muttering is again highlighted as they express regret and fear, doubting God's promise to bring them into the Promised Land. This act of muttering is seen as rebellion against God's authority.

3. Isaiah 8:19 : "When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, should not a people consult their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?"
· In this verse, muttering is associated with the practices of spiritists and mediums, contrasting the futility of seeking guidance from the dead with the wisdom of seeking God. It underscores the importance of turning to God rather than engaging in secretive or occult practices.

Theological Implications:
Muttering, as depicted in the Bible, often reveals a heart of unbelief and rebellion. It is an expression of dissatisfaction with God's provision and a failure to trust in His sovereignty. The act of muttering can lead to greater disobedience and separation from God, as seen in the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites. The Bible encourages believers to bring their concerns and complaints directly to God in prayer, rather than engaging in secretive or rebellious speech.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons:
The biblical portrayal of muttering serves as a caution against harboring a spirit of discontent and rebellion. Believers are encouraged to cultivate a heart of gratitude and trust, even in challenging circumstances. By focusing on God's faithfulness and promises, Christians can overcome the temptation to grumble and instead live in obedience and faith.1. (v. i.) To utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; esp., to utter indistinct complaints or angry expressions; to grumble; to growl.

2. (v. i.) To sound with a low, rumbling noise.

3. (v. t.) To utter with imperfect articulations, or with a low voice; as, to mutter threats.

4. (n.) Repressed or obscure utterance.

MUTTER

mut'-er (haghah (Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 59:3)): An onomatopoetic word, used of the growling of a lion (Isaiah 31:4), of the "mourning" of a dove (Isaiah 38:14), or of the human voice, whether speaking inarticulately (Isaiah 16:7) or articulately (Psalm 37:30, "The mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom" compare Job 27:4 Proverbs 8:7, etc.). Hence, it is only the context that can give to haghah the meaning "mutter." No such meaning can be gathered from the context of Isaiah 59:3, and, in fact, the open shamelessness of the sinners seems to be in point. So the verse should be rendered, "Your lips have spoken lies, your tongue uttereth wickedness." In Isaiah 8:19 haghah describes the tone of voice used by the necromancers in uttering their formulas, "that chirp and that mutter." That this tone was subdued and indistinct is quite probable.

See PEEP.

Burton Scott Easton

1111. gogguzo -- to mutter, murmur
... to mutter, murmur. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: gogguzo Phonetic Spelling:
(gong-good'-zo) Short Definition: I whisper, murmur, grumble Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1111.htm - 7k1897. hagah -- to moan, growl, utter, speak, muse
... NASB Word Usage declare (1), devise (2), devising (1), growls (1), make a sound
(1), meditate (5), meditates (1), moan (3), moan sadly (1), mutter (2), mutters ...
/hebrew/1897.htm - 6k

Christum Wir Sollen Loben Schon. Now Praise we Christ, the Holy ...
... 3. Die goettlich Gnad' vom Himmel gross Sich in die keusche Mutter goss; Ein
Maegdlein trug ein heimlich Pfand, Das der Natur war unbekannt. ...
/.../bacon/the hymns of martin luther/vii christum wir sollen loben.htm

Of the Question Why, if Christ is Believed to have Been the Wisest ...
... This report, furthermore, which carries with it such weight and such currency,
[548] that in dread of it they can only mutter their anxious and feeble snatches ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter viii of the question why.htm

I Will Follow the Order of Your Letter, and Subjoin Your Very ...
... the primacy among us as a writer, and stand on the summit of the rhetorical arch,
all of us who profess to know anything will not be allowed to mutter a word. ...
/.../6 i will follow the.htm

Witnessing in Power.
... But a great many people now want something besides the Word of God, and are turning
aside to these false lights. SPIRITS THAT PEEP AND MUTTER. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/secret power/witnessing in power.htm

The Unclean Spirits.
... of the dust," Isa.29:4. "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have
familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: (should not ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the unclean spirits.htm

Charity and Rebuke.
... Well done, Paul,"noble, gloriously courageous Charity that! He did not go
and mutter behind Peter's back and stab him in the dark". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/booth/godliness/chapter iv charity and rebuke.htm

Essay v. Whose Powers Shed Round Him in the Common Strife...
... by contraries, a process of which the great Tycho Brahe is said to have availed
himself in the case of the little Lackwit, who used to sit and mutter at his ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/essay v whose powers shed.htm

Mensch, Willt Du Leben Seliglich. Wilt Thou, O Man, Live Happily.
... Kyrioleis! 4. Dem Vater und der Mutter dein Sollt du nach mir gehorsam sein; Niemand
toedten noch zornig sein, Und deine Eh' halten rein. Kyrioleis! ...
/.../bacon/the hymns of martin luther/xxi mensch willt du leben.htm

Gott Sei Gelobet Und Gebenedeiet. May God be Praised Henceforth ...
... Kyrieleison! Herr, durch deinen heiligen Leichnam, Der von deiner Mutter Maria kam,
Und das heilige Blut, Hilf uns, Herr, aus aller Noth. Kyrieleison! ...
/.../bacon/the hymns of martin luther/xv gott sei gelobet und.htm

Diess Sind Die Heil'Gen Zehn Gebot'. That Man a Godly Life Might ...
... Kyrioleis! 5. Du sollt ehr'n und gehorsam sein Dem Vater und der Mutter dein, Und
wo dein Hand ihn'n dienen kann, So wirst du lang's Leben han. Kyrioleis! ...
/.../bacon/the hymns of martin luther/xiii diess sind die heilgen.htm

Mutter (6 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To sound with a low, rumbling noise. 3. (vt) To utter with imperfect
articulations, or with a low voice; as, to mutter threats. ...MUTTER. ...
/m/mutter.htm - 9k

Grumble (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To murmur or mutter with discontent; to make
ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner. ...
/g/grumble.htm - 10k

Throat (13 Occurrences)
... 10. (vt) To utter in the throat; to mutter; as, to throat threats. 11. (vt) To mow,
as beans, in a direction against their bending. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/t/throat.htm - 11k

Chirp (3 Occurrences)
... proceed from the Iower world"; hence, for "peep" of the King James Version in Isaiah
8:19 we have "chirp"-"wizards, that chirp and that mutter." Figurative: We ...
/c/chirp.htm - 8k

Necromancers (8 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto the necromancers and unto
the soothsayers, who chirp and who mutter, say, Shall not a people seek unto ...
/n/necromancers.htm - 9k

Ghosts (3 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar
spirits and unto the wizards, that chirp and that mutter: should not a people ...
/g/ghosts.htm - 7k

Wizards (10 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 8:19 When they tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and
with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn'ta people consult with ...
/w/wizards.htm - 10k

Imagine (24 Occurrences)
... haghah in the King James Version and the English Revised Version, but not in the
American Standard Revised Version, "to meditate," "mutter," "speak" (Psalm 2:1 ...
/i/imagine.htm - 14k

Enchantment (4 Occurrences)
... 21:20). (3) lachash, "to whisper," "mutter," an onomatopoetic word, like
the above, in imitation of the hiss of serpents. It is ...
/e/enchantment.htm - 16k

Muttered (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Mutter. Multi-Version Concordance
Muttered (3 Occurrences). Luke 15:2 The Pharisees and ...
/m/muttered.htm - 7k

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